With Chiri's genjutsu providing cover, the four blended into the crowd of Amegakure Shinobi and followed along.
As they proceeded, more and more Rain Hidden Ninja gathered from all directions. Through the fine, swirling rain, they arrived at the wide river outside the Village.
Seeing the arrival of so many Shinobi, the boatmen who made their living on the river quickly sailed away as if fleeing a plague.
This situation clearly meant...
"Gather at the Village entrance, bring your own cement," Miki muttered.
"What does that mean?" Kiba asked.
Unlike Hime and Chiri, he was not yet used to the strange phrases that sometimes popped out of Miki's mouth, and was still curious enough to ask.
"Keep the music playing, keep the dancing," Miki replied.
Kiba scratched his head, still not understanding.
Miki was still too strange for him.
Just like he didn't know why the old man reacted so strongly when Miki had just said, "Do you also want to dance?"
At this moment, the number of Shinobi on the river grew, reaching thousands.
They then subtly divided into two opposing formations.
"Which side do we join?" Hime asked in a low voice.
"Join the side with more people," Miki said naturally.
The four quietly blended into the edge of the larger group, watching the situation unfold.
Although they were fellow villagers, the two factions of Shinobi were filled with a strong scent of gunpowder. The explosive killing intent could not be concealed even by the heavy rain, reaching the hearts of everyone present.
Eventually, the gunpowder exploded, but instead of fighting, they started shouting insults.
"You bastards! Every single one of you! Talking about changing the Land of Rain! All you'll do is drag the Land of Rain into war!"
This was the view of the faction Miki was with.
"What a joke! If the Land of Rain does nothing, then it's truly over! By then, caught in the war of the Great Nations, we won't be able to do anything!"
This was the opposing argument.
"So, you want to launch an armed coup to overthrow the rule of the Land of Rain!? What sense does that make!?"
"Only through change can we continue to survive!"
At first, they spoke reasonably, both sides trying to persuade the other.
But later, seeing that their conversation couldn't lead to mutual understanding, they simply started to hurl insults.
They insulted each other's families, and it seemed like a brawl could break out at any moment.
But they all restrained themselves.
They looked like they wanted change but were afraid of pain.
A military coup, how could it happen without bloodshed? Shouting slogans was useless.
But then, a heavyweight figure appeared.
On one side was a fading elder, and on the other, the rising sun of youth.
A young man in his twenties appeared with an imposing aura.
He wore traditional Shinobi night attire, a special mask, and had golden hair and golden eyes.
He walked with the powerful stride of a dragon and tiger, his face radiating the compelling aura of a hero.
As he appeared, the surrounding Shinobi automatically made way, their reverent gazes following his figure.
This behavior meant that this guy possessed immense charisma.
This made Miki think of someone.
Yahiko, back in the Akatsuki Organization, was probably looked at with such expectant eyes as well.
But Hanzo, this man, did not have Yahiko's naivety.
Meanwhile, the elder on Miki's side looked rather unimpressive.
His aura was significantly weaker than Hanzo's.
"Hanzo, is it already irreversible?" the old man said weakly.
"Masashige-sama, your era is over. The Village thanks you for saving the Land of Rain from between the Great Nations during its most perilous time. But now, you can no longer keep up with the Village's pace. Let me lead the Village forward!"
"How dare you! Ghost Hanzo! Who gave you permission to speak to Masashige-sama like that!"
"Chuji, a man like you should join us and fight for the future of this country. Why waste your skills?"
...Chuji said no more, only remaining silent.
Leader Masashige couldn't help but glance at Chuji.
The current situation was actually very clear. Although his side had more people, most of them were Genin.
The insightful elites of the Village were mostly on Hanzo's side.
Furthermore, his own people were unstable, many already wavering.
He had already lost.
Masashige sighed.
Hanzo didn't kill him, only coerced him. Besides wanting to legitimately become the leader, he also didn't want too much bloodshed in the Village.
Even Masashige had to admit that this guy could become a competent leader.
But...
"Hanzo, you simply don't understand what you are facing, what kind of monster the Land of Rain is facing."
"Are the Five Great Nations very strong?" Hanzo sneered, "Just because they are strong, do we have to retreat!"
"Hanzo..."
"Shut up! Don't be cowardly anymore! This way, everyone in the Village can't hold their heads high!!"
"Even if it's the Five Great Nations! The world! If we must fight, then let's fight! With my blade, I will unify the Ninja World and bring true peace to the Land of Rain!"
As his words fell, cheers like a mountain and a tsunami erupted from the crowd of Shinobi.
Everyone shouted Hanzo's name.
"Hanzo! Hanzo! Hanzo!"
It had to be admitted that such a person had some charm, but Miki still wanted to say...
"Utterly boring."
Another person beside her said the same thing.
The two looked up and met each other's gaze.
The old man from the street, with his arms crossed, nodded in approval at Miki.
This guy was like a ghost.
"So scary," Chiri muttered, her hand lightly resting on her sword hilt.
Hime casually glanced at the old man, taking a step closer.
Kiba scratched his head, his hand on his short sword.
"What's your mission?" the old man asked curiously, "Did Masashige, that kid, entrust you with assassinating Hanzo?"
Then he muttered to himself, "Although that kid is called 'Masashige who runs away,' his actions throughout his life have been upright and honorable. He is a rare man since the Warring States Period, trustworthy and righteous, not someone who would commission an assassination."
"I don't know who the employer is," Miki replied.
"Hmph, then it must be that Sandaime kid's idea," the old man sneered, "Just like the Second Hokage kid, despicable and insidious."
"I don't know," Miki answered.
The old man looked at Miki and said, "Aburame brat, your name."
"Mushi-Hime," Miki replied coldly.
"What an ugly name," the old man laughed, "Sounds like it could be crushed with one finger."
With that, he burst into loud laughter.
This guy was a bit off his rocker.
"Shut up, or I'll kill you," Miki said coldly.
The old man gradually quieted down and said, "Interesting. Aren't you going to ask my name?"
He looked as if he feared his name would scare her to death if he said it.
"No need," Miki said, "There's no need to remember the names of dead people."
"Huh?" the old man raised his voice, sneering, "In this Ninja World, the person who can kill me hasn't been born yet!"
"I'm only sixteen," Miki sneered, "And looking at you, you don't have many years left to live."
The old man's face darkened.
He didn't speak.
His spiral eyes stared intently at Miki.
"Stare again, and I'll gouge out your eyes."
Miki said flatly.
She was serious.
The old man felt it.
Then he wanted to laugh, and he did.
"Who do you think I am?"
"I don't care who you are."
"I am!" The old man still didn't say it in the end.
"I won't stoop to your level, you ignorant brat."
Kiba scratched his head. This guy looked old, but he was acting like a child.
"Uh, Senior, who are you?"
Kiba politely and humbly tried to gather information.
Miki narrowed her eyes, glanced at Kiba, who was asking for trouble, and wanted to hit him.
If you can't speak properly, then shut up!
"Who cares who I am, you white-haired, useless, insidious, annoying, dog-like brat!"
A string of insults was thrown at him, and Kiba couldn't help but scratch his head.
He closed his mouth, feeling depressed.
At this moment, the cheers from the crowd gradually subsided.
In the center of the scene, Hanzo and Masashige continued their conversation.
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